Shilky Devi is the youngest player in the upcoming AFC Women’s Asian Cup and believes playing with the senior team will prepare her well for the FIFA U-17 World Cup. Shilky is among 15 players in the Indian squad under head coach Thomas Dennerby, who are under the age of 25 at the AFC Asian Cup, which starts here on Thursday.
The teenager from Manipur is the only player eligible to compete at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in India later this year. “It’s a very good learning experience for me and the others who have joined with me from the U-19 squad,” Silky said as quoted by the All India Football Federation (AIFF). “I am playing with so many senior players here and this will help me going into the U-17 World Cup. “I hope to pass on this knowledge and experiences to my teammates at the U-17 level and we can only learn from this. This experience will help me going forward,” she explained.
Shilky made her senior debut against Brazil last year, while the Indians also have Priyanka Devi, Sumati Kumari, and Mariyammal Balamurugan from the U-19 national team.
“To make the jump to the senior level, you have to work harder, not just on the pitch, but off it as well. We see the seniors maintaining so much discipline just to get that extra yard on the pitch, and that rubs off on us. Every day is a learning experience for me here,” Shilky explained.
Shilky grew up in Moirang in Manipur and has graduated from SAI Academy in Imphal. “Many had told me that I should concentrate on studies instead of football, early on, including my mother. But my father always supported me. He loves to watch me play football,” Shilky confessed. “I prefer playing as a defender more than as a striker, ever since I learned how to play in this position. I can see the entire game in front of me, and can help organize my team and influence the match from defense quite a lot,” she added. Against Iran, India begins their AFC campaign on January 20.
